Sea of lies: The USS Vincennes shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655 on July 3, 1988

[Afshin]

It is now 16 years since US Terrorists massacared 290 innocent Iranian civilians on route to their holidays when those savages shot down the Iran Air flight 655 on July 3rd 1988, Iranians must never forget this crime by a state that claims they are fighting terrorism!!

Here is one article on this terrorist act:

On July 3, 1988, and American warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing 290 civilians. This is the true story of how it happened -- and how the Pentagon tried to cover up the tragic blunder.
Link to full article:
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5260/vince.html

May those innocent victims of this terror act rest in peace.

[Ali_Khalili]

Regardless of actions in which they claim that they are 'liberating' certain parts of the world and engaging in their alleged 'war against terrorism', i will never go to admit that the United States government aims for peace in their actions and foreign policy. Whenever i recall their actions against Iran, Indirect as to shy away from the international eye, it really pains me. In this case they shot down a clearly marked and distinguishable passenger aircraft carrying 290 of our fellow countrymen. Need i remind everyone about their prolonged, consistant efforts to assist Saddam Hussain in his attacks against our country? True, the Islamic rulers of Iran do no deserve support domestically or internationaly, but war crimes such as the use of chemical gas against thousands of our troops, targeted civilian bombings by the Iraqis? How about the Billions of US Dollars used to arm Hussain? If you ask me i would not place full blame on the former Iraqi leader, but rather this nation which claims to be THE host of peace and moderation in affairs. Although there are many, many more examples of such severe actions such as these, I will not continue any further as i dont intend to make this too political, rather i wish to state these clear facts so that we understand all these years of unjust towards the people of our country, and all the suffering that they have faced, with no efforts at obtaining 'justice' over the actual cause of our pains. We can forgive eventually, but never should one forget these atrocities.

I will end with the following quote from 'counterpunch.org' -

On August 18, 2002, the New York Times carried a front-page story headlined, "Officers say U.S. aided Iraq despite the use of gas". Quoting anonymous US "senior military officers", the NYT "revealed" that in the 1980s, the administration of US President Ronald Reagan covertly provided "critical battle planning assistance at a time when American intelligence knew that Iraqi commanders would employ chemical weapons in waging the decisive battles of the Iran-Iraq war". The story made a brief splash in the international media, then died.

While the August 18 NYT article added new details about the extent of US military collaboration with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during Iraq's 1980-88 war with Iran, it omitted the most outrageous aspect of the scandal: not only did Ronald Reagan's Washington turn a blind-eye to the Hussein regime's repeated use of chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers and Iraq's Kurdish minority, but the US helped Iraq develop its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs.

[Cia]

If you don’t have time to read the full story please read the following summary:

- The USS Vincennes was the US navy’s most expensive surface warship, designed to track and shoot down as many as 200 incoming missiles at once.

- The warship was inside Iranian territorial waters at the time of the shoot down in clear violation of international law.

- Iran Air Flight 655 took off from Bandar Abbas for Dubai.

- The pilot had done nothing out of he ordinary and obeyed all rules and regulations, including staying within a 25-mile-wide commercial airline corridor.

- The passenger plane was shot down on the orders of a trigger-happy captain.

- 290 innocent civilians die.

- The US lies to reporters and the UN security council.

- Captain Rogers insisted to "Nightline" that he had made the "proper decision." He had opened fire only to protect his ship and crew, he said.

- Captain Will Rogers of the USS Vincennes was given the Legion of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious conduct”

- The anti-air warfare officer was granted two Navy commendation medals for his service on the ship

- The crew were given combat-action ribbons for their tour in dangerous waters.

- The Supreme Court refused to reinstate a lawsuit against the federal government by families of people killed when the USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf in 1988. Without comment, the court said it wouldn't hear Koohi v. U.S. (92-1504), in which relatives of those killed argued that the United States wasn't at war with Iran and therefore isn't immune from lawsuits over combat injuries.

- Without acknowledging liability, the government paid about $2.9 million to non-Iranian relatives of passengers aboard the plane. It made no payments to Iranians because their country has filed a claim against the United States in an international court, Justice Department lawyers said.

- A number of the Vincennes seamen and officers aboard the Vincennes are still in therapy today

- On February 22, 1996, the US agreed to pay Iran $61.8 million in compensation ($300,000 per wage earning victim, $150,000 per non wage earner) for the 248 Iranians killed in the shoot down.

[fan_1981]

Thanks for the article, Afshin and the summary Cia.

US Terrorists, thats all i have to say.

[Afshin]

Today is July 3rd 2004, 16th anniversary of US Massacre of Iran Air flight 655 and its 290 passengers, I will make this thread a sticky, no Iranian should ever forget this crime by a Government that claims they are fighting terrorism (US Government not people).

[Bache Jordan]

it is interesting that lybia was forced to pay over a million compensation to each passenger. this whole thing is a joke.

I hope one day iran gets so powerful taht the responsibles can be brought to trial

[ManiF]

Afshin is there anyway you start an online pettion demanding for charges to be pressed against Saddam for starting the Iran-Iraq war?
Related: http://www.irankicks.com/ikboard/showthread.php?t=20763

[Afshin]

ManiF Jaan, I am afraid since we are a football site such a petition would be inapprioriate for us to do, frankly speaking I doubt if any petition would make a difference to what happens to Saddam, the Americans are doing what they like in the Middle East, they don't even recognise UN objections.

[ManiF]

ManiF Jaan, I am afraid since we are a football site such a petition would be inapprioriate for us to do, frankly speaking I doubt if any petition would make a difference to what happens to Saddam, the Americans are doing what they like in the Middle East, they don't even recognise UN objections.

Hi Afshin jaan

I didn't mean a petition on IK I meant an online petition in General...It could be on http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html :) I'd do one myself but I'm afraid I'm no good at wrting petitions...it's just a suggestion and I think such petition may very wll creat a bit of buzz in the media which would put pressure on the new Iraqi governemt and force them to include the Iran-Iraq war charges against Saddam :)

[kamran 2]

May GOD bless their souls, and bring to justice those responsible for this crime against humanity.

[Afshin]

ManiF Jaan, I see what you mean, honestly, we would be wasting our time, you must have seen the 7 charges agianst Saddam in the media, there is no mention of the crimes he committed in Iran, the bottom line is USA does not give a damn about Iran and the Iranian people, hence they whole focus is on what Saddam did to Kuwait, the Kurds and others except what he did to Iran since USA supported Saddam in his crimes against Iran.

[Bauvafa]

God bless their soul, so helpless. How could anyone justify such c o wa rdly act!!!

[Afshin]

Hi Afshin jaan

I didn't mean a petition on IK I meant an online petition in General...It could be on http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html :) I'd do one myself but I'm afraid I'm no good at wrting petitions...it's just a suggestion and I think such petition may very wll creat a bit of buzz in the media which would put pressure on the new Iraqi governemt and force them to include the Iran-Iraq war charges against Saddam :)You might find this interesting ManiF:

Tehran to indict Saddam over war (July 5th)

(BBC) Tehran says it has drawn its own list of charges against Saddam Hussein for crimes relating to the Iran-Iraq war.
The charges - to be submitted to the Iraqi court which is trying the ousted leader - include the 1980 attack on Iran and the use of chemical weapons.

Almost a million people died in the eight-year war between the two nations.

A spokesman said Iran had asked why alleged crimes against Iran were not among charges read out during Saddam Hussein's court appearance on Thursday.

"Iran will definitely file the complaint with the Iraqi court," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

"One of the crimes of Saddam Hussein is the attack of Iran, the death of Iranians, the use of chemical weapons," Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

Documents

Mr Asefi said Tehran wanted to know why charges relating to the Iran-Iraq war had not been included in the original list read out to Saddam Hussein.

"We have asked the Iraqis to explain why the attack on Iran did not feature among the charges against him, even though the judge said it would be addressed at a later date," Mr Asefi said.

Saddam Hussein appeared on Thursday in a court specially set up to try him and was told by an Iraqi judge that he would face charges relating to seven alleged crimes.

Iran said it would also hand over documents to the Iraqi court where Saddam Hussein is standing trial, although it was not made clear exactly when the complaint would be lodged.

Preliminary charges against Saddam Hussein cover the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, suppressing rebellions by Kurds and Shia after the 1991 Persian Gulf war, ethnic cleansing of Kurds in 1987-88 and the gassing of Kurdish villagers in 1988.

[naderjan]

Shame on them!
I will never forget this.Some day when we are strong, we should get an "International" appology and hopefuly a hefty compensation for the victim's families!

[Ali_Europe]

the gangsters in US government even gave the damn captain of that ship severyl medals!!!! he and his supporters belong in jail............

hopefully one day justice will win!!! big sympathy to the relatives of those passengers and to relatives of all other innocent people which have been killed by us army!!!

[dashali]

shame on all of them...
EY REAGAN.....goor be goor beshie ja...esh
hopefully he is paying for that crime....

taslieyat be hame Irania
Iranetehhhhhhhhh :iran1: